Plant Pathology Minor

The science of staying a step ahead of plant disease.

The Plant Pathology minor arms you with the scientific tools necessary to understand and manage plant diseases. Protect our vulnerable food system with your knowledge of biology, biodiversity, plant stress, and environmentally sound disease management.

Career paths: work to protect our food supply system.

The Plant Pathology minor will help you develop a career in commercial crop production, industry, private consulting, cooperative extension, or research.

A Plant Pathology minor is a great option if you are:

  • passionate about domestic and international agriculture
  • concerned about environmental sustainability and food security
  • interested in working in areas such as forestry and agricultural disease management
  • a strong science student

Courses

For details on program requirements, suggested academic plan, and more, see the University Bulletin.

Required courses

  • Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity
  • Independent Studies

Sample additional courses

  • Air Pollution Impacts to Terrestrial Ecosystems
  • Biology of Fungi
  • Diseases of Forest and Shade Trees
  • The Fungal Jungle: A Mycological Safari from Truffles to Slime Molds
  • Horticultural Crop Diseases
  • Independent Studies
  • Microbe-Plant Interactions: Plant Disease and Biological Control
  • Phytobacteriology
  • Plant Stress: It’s Not Easy Being Green
  • Plant Virology: Molecules to Populations
  • Principles of Integrated Pest Management
  • Special Topics
  • Turfgrass Disease Management
  • Virus Ecology

Get started.

Students may apply in LionPATH for admission to the Plant Pathology minor. Select the Undergraduate Students tab; in Quick Links select Log in to LionPATH Student Center; then select Update Academics. For additional information, contact with the minor adviser, Dr. María del Mar Jiménez Gasco

Plant pathology lab technician at work.
Future plant pathologist studying at Penn State.
Plant Pathology students learning about horticultural crop diseases.